1 CHAPTER 1

"Good morning, class" the person leading me said as he entered a classroom and banged the desk motioning for the students attention.

"Morning, Mr. Mason" the pupils answered

"We have a new student who will be joining us today"

Turning to me, he said, "Introduce yourself"

"Hi, everyone, my name is Shannon Salvatore" I said aware of the stares

"So, I hope everyone will be nice and accommodating" Mr. Mason said

Not a very patient man, I thought

"Well, we'll have to see about that" a girl at the front in the other side of the class said and that was all I needed to go back and walk through the exit of the school

"That is your desk" ignoring the girl, he pointed to a desk near a girl who looked friendly at the rear back also at the other side

"Miss Choi, would you kindly show Miss Salvatore around after class" he asked the friendly looking girl

"No problem" she said

That was fast, I thought

"Hi, my name is Kimberly Choi" she said with a warm smile as I got to the desk

"Hi" I answered back with a shy smile

"My name is Shannon Salvatore" I repeated

"I know, you've already introduced yourself"

"Oh, I see" at least someone paid attention

This might not come out so bad after all, I thought to myself. Thank you, lovely stars.

She smiled at me and went back to her work.

"Okay class, I would like you to open to page 64 in your math textbook..."

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The bell rang meaning the end of the class.

"Come on, let's go" Kimberly said

"To where?" I asked confused

"To show you round and you also need to get your locker"

"Oh"

"Do you have the destination for your locker? I can help you with it"

"Yes, I do" I said handing her the slip.

"Fortunately, it's right beside my locker" she said with a smile

"Is it?"

"Yes, let's go and I can also show you around if you want"

"Sure, thanks"

"No problem" she said and was about going but turned and said, "and one more thing" she said

"What?"

"You need to be free"

"I'm not sure I understand what you are saying" I said confused

"What I mean is you don't have to be stuck, don't be all 'thanks', 'oh' and all sort. If you want to live in this school you will have to take a stand because Britney Lodge and her followers are going to try their very best to make sure you go crying back to your mama to take you elsewhere"

"Britney Lodge? Who's that?" I asked

"To put it in short, a pathetic, miserable and low life bitch who thinks she has everything"

"Ouch, that's deep" I said normally putting my hand in my chest as if I had been thrust with a spear which made her laugh, while I smiled

"Let's go" she said

From the classroom to where my locker will be, she showed be around

"This is your locker. Nice, isn't it?" she said when we got to a particular locker

"Yeah" I opened the locker and examined it.

It was wonderful and even though it was not okay to admit it, it was better than the one at my ex-school

"Wonderful. You might want to hurry up a little, next period will soon start" I began arranging my things in my locker.

When I was done, we were about to go when three girls approached us

"Look girls, it seems like the new girl is getting used to the school, why don't we help her adjust even more" the girl at the middle said

"Just go away, we don't want any trouble" Kimberly said to her

"Trouble, but we just wanted to help" the girl replied looking taken back and innocent

"Thanks but we don't want your help" Kimberly said ignoring the look

"Are you sure? We can really be.................... "

"Yes, thanks" Kimberly said cutting her short

"Too bad then, it looks like our offer was turned down" she said to the other girls

Looking at me,

"Don't worry, I will still help you. I always help" she said

"Come on girls, let's go" she said as they turned and went

"I know that is the said Britney Lodge at the middle but, who are the other girls?" I asked her after the girls were at a distance

"They are the people who think they are like her but are just her followers" she said

"Well, to me" she added which gave my face a slight smile

"That is Avalon Stone on the right and that is Regina Jennings on the left" she continued

"They are called the BBP Girls'" she said

"The 'Beauty Brains Popular Girls'" she added seeing my perplexed expression

"I see" I said

"Ridiculous, isn't it" she asked me

"I mean, is that the only thing they could come up with? BBP? And they don't even have the 'Brains'" She said with a scoff and I agreed with her.

I could even come up with a better name like CCP, Cool Cute Popular, even though they weren't cute.

"Anyway, let's forget them" she said a

"Let's see, what do you have next period?" She took my schedule

"Wow, you have a free period" she said after looking at my schedule

"Do you also have a free period?" I asked her

"No, I got french"

"I didn't really see you as a french person"

"Trust me, I am not. It is all my parents credit"

"That happens" I said with a smile

"Yeah, it does. Anyway, you can stay in the room I told you about, where you can stay on your free periods if you don't want to stay at the cafeteria or library"

"See ya" she said and walked away

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I heaved a sigh of relief as I neatly arranged my books in my locker, school was finally over and I survived it. I may live after all, I thought to myself as Kim came towards me.

"Congratulations" she said to me as she stretched her hand for a handshake

"For what?" I asked not meeting her hand

"For surviving your first day at school, silly" she said smiling

"Thanks, but I don't think I will need to be congratulated until I graduate" I said closing my locker

We walked together until we reached the exit which could also the entrance of the school

"Okay, this is where we separate. Bye, see you tomorrow" she said

"Bye" I replied her as she headed towards her car

"Kim" I said before she could be out of hearing range,

"Thanks for today" I said when she turned.

She smiled at me as a no problem look and continued her journey.

She entered her car, waved at me and drove off. After she had gone, I began walking to my car and started driving home.

"Mom, I'm home" I said when I got home

"Hi sweetie, how was school" my mom said as she got out of the kitchen removing her cooking gloves but leaving her apron on

"Actually, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be" I said truthfully

"Well, I am glad it went well" she said putting on a full smile,

"Go up and change then come and eat" she continued as she entered back into the kitchen

I ascended the stairs and went to my room. I wasn't happy with moving but, at least, I was satisfied with today

Going to this school may not be so bad after all